Shiraito Falls (Shizuoka Prefecture)
Located at the foot of Mt. Fuji, Shiraito Falls is a natural monument and popular scenic spot located in Shizuoka Prefecture’s Fujinomiya City. As part of Mt. Fuji, Shiraito Falls is covered as part of the mountain’s registration as a World Cultural Heritage. Mt. Fuji is considered a subject of faith and source of art.
Visiting in summer feels especially cool and refreshing. Every now and then, you can even spot a rainbow 🌈.
Shosenkyo Gorge
Shosenkyo is located in the northern part of Kofu City, Yamanashi Prefecture, and is called "the most beautiful gorge in Japan". You can see granite cliffs, strange rocks and stones carved out over a long period of time, and clear and abundant water flowing.
Steep cliffs and unique rock formations everywhere. The paths are easy to walk, making this a great spot for hiking and enjoying nature.
Murata Town Street with Kura (storehouses)
Murata, located between Sendai and Yamagata, used to flourish for a long time as a business town. The main product was Safflowers which is a convenient raw material for dyestuff and cosmetics.
This city was a bustling hub for merchants during the Edo period, connecting Yamagata and Sendai. It really thrived thanks to all the trading back then.
Sannai Maruyama Iseki
This large historical village site was registered as a world cultural heritage in 2021. It was excavated in 1992 during the site analysis for a prefectural baseball stadium.
It's really close to the Aomori Museum of Art, so I just stopped by while I was in the area.
Hideyo Noguchi Memorial Museum
Hideyo Noguchi (1876-1928), born near Lake Inawashiro, was a world-renowned bacteriologist known for his contributions to yellow fever and syphilis.
The memorial hall has a long history and a very simple exterior—honestly, it doesn't stand out much. The main focus is on Dr. Noguchi's life story.
Inochi no Haha White
Irritability and a quick temper, poor skin condition, and painful cramps. These are all possible symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Every time I get my period, I have really bad cramps. A friend recommended this to me, and after trying it, I noticed a big improvement. It works really well.
Samurai Residences in Kakunodate
In Kakunodate, part of the city of Semboku in Akita Prefecture, exists rows of old houses first attributed to the Ashina family in the early Edo period (around year 1620), that later flourished under the castle town of the Satake-Kita family. This district has been designated as protected in an effort to conserve traditional buildings.
The Aoyagi family residence is one of the most iconic samurai houses in Kakunodate. They have some amazing collections inside, and the garden is definitely worth seeing too.
Yokohama Cosmo World
This multi-level urban amusement park has a bit of everything, from thrilling rides like a giant Ferris wheel and roller coasters to games, haunted houses, virtual reality attractions using VR and 3D technologies, and children’s rides like merry-go-rounds and character cars.
The ride takes about 15 minutes for one loop. The view is great—you can see Yokohama Port from up there. But be prepared for a long wait in line.
Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
This red brick warehouse was a world-renowned state-of-the-art Japanese warehouse from the Meiji era into the Taisho era. Presently, its appearance has been maintained, and the 2-building warehouse contains shops, restaurants, and a multipurpose hall, making it a culture and shopping spot.
The historic exterior of the building is really well preserved. Inside, the shops mostly sell creative little goods. It's definitely one of the most popular tourist spots in Yokohama.